Saint Petersburg is a timeless and classic city. Born as a bridge between Europe and Russia, this fabled city takes its name from its founder, Peter the Great in 1703. Saint Petersburg is magical with culture, art, and beauty.
There’s so much here that you want to be careful when deciding what to do in Saint Petersburg. You don’t want to miss the best of what Russia has to offer.
Here’s our guide to some of the top things to do in Saint Petersburg. It’s not a matter of if there’s anything to do, it’s about which ones to pick!
Museums
A visit to a museum in St. Petersburg is a great beginning to any trip and one of the best things to do in Saint Petersburg. It’s advisable to first learn about Russian values surrounding history, culture, and art. This will make the rest of your sight-seeing backed with a well-rounded education.
Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography
Artifacts and curiosities adorn the halls of the oldest museum in Russia. With a collection of over two million items, it displays curios from all over the world. It also serves as a major research center. One feature is the anatomical exhibit of animal body parts, malformed babies and severed limbs.
Lastly, you’re going to need at least two hours to visit this unusual marvel.
Faberge Museum
The Faberge Museum is a tribute to Peter Carl Faberge, a famous Russian jeweler responsible for popularizing egg décor. A visit to Saint Petersburg wouldn’t be complete for avid fans of these intricate baubles. Located in the Shuvalov Palace, their collection includes artifacts, jewelry, and other Russian masterpieces.
State Hermitage Museum
The Hermitage Museum is the largest in Russia and one of the richest in the world. They exhibit ancient, prehistoric, and classical art and antiquities. Also, located at the Palace Embankment, it’s a six-building complex housing a collection of more than three million items in 360 rooms.
Grand Model of Russia Museum
This is a great option for those on a brief jaunt and unsure about what to do in Saint Petersburg. The Grand Model of Russia Museum gives you a chance to visit the whole nation without leaving the city.
Spanning many halls, it’s a miniature representation of Russia with all its villages, cities, people, animals, ports, rivers, mountains, forests, hills, fields, and seaside areas.
Cathedrals & Places of Worship
Church on the Savior of Spilled Blood
Often rated as one of the best things to do in Saint Petersburg, the Church on the Savior of Spilled Blood is an amazing testament to architecture. You can get lost in its past for days. History buffs and Russophiliacs will find themselves near heaven here.
Built on the same site as the assassination of Tsar Alexander in 1881, this place is famous for its domes splayed in vibrant colors.
St. Isaac’s Cathedral
220 pounds of gold glistens in the sunlight atop the dome of St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Famous for its dome and portico of red granite, this timeless treasure is a landmark dedicated to Napoleon’s defeat.
Tsar Alexander commissioned this palace-like sanctuary in 1818 but wasn’t completed until around 1858. A perfect place for Christians on a Sunday visit.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan
Another wondrous statement to the quality of Russian architecture, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan is a beauty. It actually replaces a previous wooden church dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. A quaint square with gorgeous columns nestle the center of this structure and house some of Russia’s most beloved artists and sculptors.
Alexander Nevsky Lavra Monastery
Home to many of Russia’s historic icons, visiting the Alexander Nevsky Lavra Monastery is an absolute must for those curious about Russia’s past. Peter the Great created this building to honor Alexander Nevsky Lavra. He was a military leader who prevented the 13th-century invasion of Sweden and Germany.
The monastery holds two churches and a necropolis with the tombs of people like Tchaikovsky and Dostoevsky resting here. This is free to visit and a great economic option for travelers on a budget.
Palaces & Royal History
Russia has a long, royal bloodline that ended with the Bolshevik Revolution. Whether you take an interest in Russia’s royal yesteryear or if you fancy fairy tales, a visit to the many castles and palaces should be at the top of your list.
Peter & Paul Fortress
Towering against the backdrop of Zayachy Island, Peter the Great built this as a political prison, royal burial site, and military outpost. Peter & Paul Fortress is the final resting place of Peter the Great and Tsar Nicholas II. It doesn’t matter if you’re a history buff or a first-time visitor, this is a must-see to get a real feel for Russia’s history.
Yusupov Palace
A quaint and gorgeous palace filled with ballrooms, bedrooms, frescoes, banquet halls, and impressive chandeliers. First occupied by the Yusupov family until their exile in 1917, this is also the site of Rasputin’s murder. The private theater in the architectural style of Rocco and the Moorish Drawing room are some of its charming features.
Rastrelliesque Stroganov Palace
Constructed between 1753 and 1754, this baroque-style palace has a history spanning over 200-years. More than a dozen architects and interior decorators built the various rooms. Much has changed over the years due to the shifting tastes of the owner’s preferences and keeping up with popular fashions. Anyone inclined toward architecture would enjoy a couple-hour visit here.
Saint Petersburg Palace Square
The Palace Square is one of the largest tourist hubs in the city, giving access to Peter the Great’s Winter Palace. You can get to any major monument, attraction, or avenue, including Nevsky Prospekt. Food, shopping, sculptures, and history line all areas sounding the square.
Sight-Seeing & Guided Tours
Whether day or night, summer or winter, sight-seeing, and guided tours abound the great city of Saint Petersburg. You can get a rooftop experience or cater your visit to encompass a real-life excursion into the world of fairy tales.
Nevsky Prospekt
Nevsky Prospekt is the most bustling street in Saint Petersburg and where most holidays and celebrations occur. Statues of historical personalities and heroes in the Kazan area line the street. Crossing the River Sink, it’s 2.8 miles long and up to 197 feet wide.
You can access a plethora of monuments and infrastructure like the Alexander Nevsky Lavra Monastery, Moscow Railway Station, and various 18th-century churches, including the Kazan Cathedral.
Neva River
Flowing from the northwest and into the Gulf of Finland, this waterway is integral to Saint Petersburg. It has a vast number of channels vectoring off into numerous neighborhoods and can access some of the more popular museums, cathedrals, and monuments.
Concerts & Performances
Royal Romanov Concert
For classic music lovers, this is an absolute to-do-list item in Russia. Immerse yourself in the royal experience of the Romanov Dynasty with a tour of the palace followed by high-end cuisine and the timeless music of Tchaikovsky and other well-known Russian composers.
Folk Dancing
Dancing is an essential part of understanding Russian art, culture, and history. It’s a look into the daily life of the average Russian citizen. A host of performances are available in Saint Petersburg, including the renowned Cossacks.
A ticket to one of these performances will be the perfect cap to a busy day of touring the majestic city.
Classic Ballet
The Russian Ballet has an impeccable reputation for beauty combined with technical perfection. St. Petersburg is home to some of the best ballet dancers in the world. A ticket to any one of their theaters is one of the best things to do in Saint Petersburg.
Cuisine & Culinary Experiences
Vodka Tours & Pub Crawls
Russia prides itself on their vodka production because they have some of the best-crafted in the world. If all the vodka tours weren’t enough to make your head spin, you can also head over to the Vodka Museum.
Also, to get an authentic Russian experience, you must taste this wonderful potato-based liquor during your stay.
Cooking Classes
Learn how to craft some of the best dishes from around the region by world-class chefs. An invaluable opportunity to keep Russia with you after returning home. You can impress friends and relatives with a delicious array of traditional recipes not found in many other places.
Caviar Tasting
Delectable caviar should be somewhere on your checklist if you enjoy a luxurious foodie experience. Champagne or vodka comes with a tasting of three different types of this fish-egg delicacy served by the Russian Caviar House. This is the same place that also supplies the Kremlin and astronauts with all their caviar.
Whether on a budget, historic safari, fairy tale adventure, visiting only a few days, or going for the full Russian experience, there’s something for the young or old in Saint Petersburg.
